The worst selections and non-selections in Test history

[_Ed_]

Disagree. Brenton Parchment, Suruj Ragoonath, Lincoln Roberts.

Particularly impressed by the record of Roberts. Colin Croft had other ideas in March 1999 though...

One of two surprises on this team selected for the first Test, Roberts has the look of class about him. Perhaps one of the few younger batsmen in the Caribbean who actually has the mature potential-full look.

Wonder what he thinks of the chap now.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Off the field, Croft is more useless than a ball counter.

 

[DaRick]

Well, as for inexplicable call-ups + rubbish performances, I will try to recall the ones from 1990- (an arduous task, but this is my area of relative expertise):

Selections:

Brendon Julian in 1993 - Bizarrely selected over Wayne Holdsworth in 1993, despite the fact that Holdsworth was in career-best form and duly underperformed
Peter McIntyre in 1994/95 - From watching him, he looked like Australia's answer to Ian Salisbury (i.e - line on or outside offstump). Strange selection, despite Warne having passed his series peak.
Shaun Young in 1997 - It truly baffles me that he played Test cricket, TBH.
Brett Lee in December 2002 - Was dropped earlier and then re-selected, only to have a disappointing Ashes series, over somebody who had out-performed him earlier
Ricky Ponting in 1998/99 - Was sent to replace Darren Lehmann, although Lehmann had performed well in Pakistan - Ponting duly did poorly
Scott Muller in 1999/00 - Had some success a year earlier, but didn't do that well, over several other possible candidates (Kasprowicz, for instance)
Nathan Bracken in 2003/04 - Strange selection, poor performance.
Andrew Symonds in 2003/04 - Katich was far more deserving
Shane Watson - Selected based on a combination of hype and ODI success - didn't work
Brad Young - Confusing selection - stands out as one of Australia's worst-performing ODI bowlers

Non-selections:

Simon Katich - Multiple times
Michael Kasprowicz - Multiple times
Wayne Holdsworth - See above
Andy Bichel - Was made 12th man as much as he was actually selected in the final XI
Darren Lehmann in 1998/99 - See above
Stuart MacGill - Multiple times
Paul Reiffel in 1996/97 - Not selected on a Cape Town pitch which was seemingly tailor-made for him
Ashley Noffke/Doug Bollinger in 2007/08 - It's insane to think that Beau Casson deserved a game over these two
Brad Hodge in 2005/06 - Bizarre non-selection, although Martyn did well for a short time

There are probably others, but those are the ones that really spring to mind.

 

[chaminda_00]

Would have Shane Watson in worst non selection personally. The guys just a freak and should be the first name on the team sheet when fit (after all NSWmen off course). Should have played 50 odd Test by now.

 

[GIMH]

The Aussie selectors have gotten it largely right for a good number of years so it's tough to find some really egregious selections. Sticking with Mark Taylor for as long as they did comes to mind, bowlers like Scott Muller and that Victorian bloke who knocked over NZ at the WACA by hitting the one crack in the pitch (Simon something) at least had excellent domestic stats to back their selection.

Non-selections, there are a few; Dean Jones in the 1992/03 series against the WI, Warne for the first Test in that series, Darren Lehmann for much of the early 90's, no Kasper against India in 2003/04, etc. Even then, the only one which makes me go "What the...?" is the Dean Jones one.

Bloody hell, that must have been a long series

 

[roseboy64]

Pedro Collins on the last tour to South Africa might be worthy. Can see why he didn't play though.

 

[James90]

Would have Shane Watson in worst non selection personally. The guys just a freak and should be the first name on the team sheet when fit (after all NSWmen off course). Should have played 50 odd Test by now.

Would have been bowling on crutches for the majority of those 50.

 

[archie mac]

Our man has just taken a wicket

Albert Trott missing out on the 1896 tour

 

[Top_Cat]

Well, as for inexplicable call-ups + rubbish performances, I will try to recall the ones from 1990- (an arduous task, but this is my area of relative expertise):

Selections:

Brendon Julian in 1993 - Bizarrely selected over Wayne Holdsworth in 1993, despite the fact that Holdsworth was in career-best form and duly underperformed

This one was pretty justified; BJ provided variety, swung the ball and was a better bat and field than Holdsworth. Plus, if I remember correctly, Holdsworth arrived in England and got spanked in the warm-ups. And, picking BJ for his batting saved the Aussies a Test!

But yeah, Holdsworth was really lucky just to be in the touring party. Was never going to be a regular pick.

 

[Top_Cat]

Would have Shane Watson in worst non selection personally. The guys just a freak and should be the first name on the team sheet when fit (after all NSWmen off course). Should have played 50 odd Test by now.

Come off it, how often in last 5 years has he even got through a full season?

 

[DaRick]

This one was pretty justified; BJ provided variety, swung the ball and was a better bat and field than Holdsworth. Plus, if I remember correctly, Holdsworth arrived in England and got spanked in the warm-ups. And, picking BJ for his batting saved the Aussies a Test!

We don't pick bowlers based on their batting prowess. We aren't the English cricket team, after all. It'd be like me saying that Brett Lee's oft-disappointing 2005 Ashes was justified just because he got a few runs.

Anyway, that's not how Steve Waugh remembers it:
"A young, wide-eyed Wayne Holdsworth was picked for the 1993 Ashes tour when he was in the prime form of his career, having just taken 7/41 for NSW in the Shield final. On tour, 'Cracker' was knocking over everyone in the nets, including captain Allan Border, with a mixture of raw pace and prodigious late away swing. He was primed to go in the first Test, but missed out to Brendon Julian, whose left-arm swing gave the attack more variety."

But yeah, Holdsworth was really lucky just to be in the touring party. Was never going to be a regular pick.

Evidently not, if he was in prime form. Brendon Julian, at any rate, was nothing more than a decent FC paceman and rarely of Test standard when he did play for Australia.

 

[vic_orthdox]

Hehehehe, Holdsworth. Probably fell sick after an infamous meal following a Sheffield Shield match.

 

[Top_Cat]

We don't pick bowlers based on their batting prowess.

On this occasion, it would appear they did. BJ only got on the tour because of his all-round abilities, was definitely not a pure bowler at the time. As you said, he wasn't even opening the bowling for WA at the time. Was picked as the best of the young all-rounders going around at the time on potential, not on form because he didn't have a brilliant season for WA. Holdsworth was picked in most of the warm-up OD matches but only one of the 3-day matches before Old Trafford; he was never in line for a Test spot.

BJ was considered an all-rounder so Holdsworth wasn't really competing with him, more with Tim May and Paul Reiffel as back-up for Hughes/McDermott. BJ was dropped for Tim May for Lords, McDermott was injured after Lords and the selectors went first with Julian again at Trent Bridge then Reiffel at Headingly; this suggests how back in the pecking-order Holdsworth was. If he was really considered to be in prime form and about to be picked, when McDermott was injured or when Julian was dropped for Reiffel later in the series would have been the perfect time to play him.

Anyway, that's not how Steve Waugh remembers it:
"A young, wide-eyed Wayne Holdsworth was picked for the 1993 Ashes tour when he was in the prime form of his career, having just taken 7/41 for NSW in the Shield final. On tour, 'Cracker' was knocking over everyone in the nets, including captain Allan Border, with a mixture of raw pace and prodigious late away swing. He was primed to go in the first Test, but missed out to Brendon Julian, whose left-arm swing gave the attack more variety."

The buzz at the time, in the media and around the traps was that Holdsworth was a tourist for that trip and that BJ batted 8 in his first Test tells you a lot about how highly he was rated with the bat too. Was definitely pushed-for hard by Waugh but, from memory, AB and Simmo didn't rate him and at the time the captain and coach were members of the selection team so he wasn't really in with much of a chance. I thought Holdsworth should have been given a go in the ODI's if he was a genuine Test prospect. When he missed out even being in the 12, I figured his chance was lost.

I thought the guy treated really poorly was Paul Reiffel. Bowled okay against the WI at home, got a touring spot because his style of bowling was seen as perfect for English conditions and played the first couple of ODI's. But he missed out until the 4th Test and bowled beautifully for the rest of the series. The selectors got spooked by Robin Smith smashing him to all parts in the second ODI, I reckon; 11 overs for 70 in those days was like 10 overs for 100 these days.

Evidently not, if he was in prime form. Brendon Julian, at any rate, was nothing more than a decent FC paceman and rarely of Test standard when he did play for Australia.

Evidently, he was if the selectors had multiple opportunities to pick him in the series and chose against it. I just had a look and they picked Holdsworth after McDermott was injured in one of the warm-up games between Lords and Trent Bridge but in the match before the 3rd Test, went for BJ. See for yourself.

http://aus.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1993/AUS_IN_ENG/AUS_IN_ENG_1993_RESULTS-SUMMARY.html

 

[NZTailender]

Non-selection of Lou Vincent in tests circa 2005...

 

[Flem274*]

Non-selection of Lou Vincent in tests circa 2005...

Depends on who he was left out for..

 

[NZTailender]

Shouldn't have been left out in the first place.

 

[DaRick]

On this occasion, it would appear they did. BJ only got on the tour because of his all-round abilities, was definitely not a pure bowler at the time. As you said, he wasn't even opening the bowling for WA at the time.

I don't recall saying this, nor was I aware of it. At any rate, selecting Brendon Julian based on all-round ability is utter lunacy. At international level, he was in Shane Warne's class as a batsman. As a bowler, he often (save the odd spell) fell well short of Test class. Not the stuff that aspirant all-rounders are made off. After all, we don't consider Mitchell Johnson to be one, right? Ultimately, Julian was a 'bowler who can bat a bit' (he opened the bowling, for one thing). The kind of thinking that the selectors demonstrated doesn't really justify his selection at all.

Was picked as the best of the young all-rounders going around at the time on potential, not on form because he didn't have a brilliant season for WA.

...and people rag on Mitchell Johnson for being selected based on potential.

Holdsworth was picked in most of the warm-up OD matches but only one of the 3-day matches before Old Trafford; he was never in line for a Test spot.

He should've been, IMO.

BJ was considered an all-rounder so Holdsworth wasn't really competing with him, more with Tim May and Paul Reiffel as back-up for Hughes/McDermott.

BJ was dropped for Tim May for Lords, McDermott was injured after Lords and the selectors went first with Julian again at Trent Bridge then Reiffel at Headingly; this suggests how back in the pecking-order Holdsworth was. If he was really considered to be in prime form and about to be picked, when McDermott was injured or when Julian was dropped for Reiffel later in the series would have been the perfect time to play him.

No doubt, but Brendon Julian shouldn't have got a game, IMO.

The buzz at the time, in the media and around the traps was that Holdsworth was a tourist for that trip and that BJ batted 8 in his first Test tells you a lot about how highly he was rated with the bat too.

Not that highly, evidently, or at least not enough to fill an 'all-rounder spot', more 'the specialist bowler most adept at batting' spot (ala Warne for much of his career). He may have been rated highly in comparison to other specialist bowlers (and that's what he essentially was, like Holdsworth), but that shouldn't justify a shoo-in debut.

Was definitely pushed-for hard by Waugh but, from memory, AB and Simmo didn't rate him and at the time the captain and coach were members of the selection team so he wasn't really in with much of a chance.

Odd, given Waugh's lucid description.

I thought Holdsworth should have been given a go in the ODI's if he was a genuine Test prospect. When he missed out even being in the 12, I figured his chance was lost.

It was.

I thought the guy treated really poorly was Paul Reiffel. Bowled okay against the WI at home, got a touring spot because his style of bowling was seen as perfect for English conditions and played the first couple of ODI's. But he missed out until the 4th Test and bowled beautifully for the rest of the series. The selectors got spooked by Robin Smith smashing him to all parts in the second ODI, I reckon; 11 overs for 70 in those days was like 10 overs for 100 these days.

Paul Reiffel's been treated poorly throughout his career, come to think of it. I don't disagree with what you're saying, though.

Evidently, he was if the selectors had multiple opportunities to pick him in the series and chose against it. I just had a look and they picked Holdsworth after McDermott was injured in one of the warm-up games between Lords and Trent Bridge but in the match before the 3rd Test, went for BJ. See for yourself.

http://aus.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1993/AUS_IN_ENG/AUS_IN_ENG_1993_RESULTS-SUMMARY.html

Nuts. Picking someone who was both expensive and ineffective for a warm-up game and then a Test match over somebody who was more economical during the preceeding game.

I rest assured that those selectors were merely smoking crack, then.

 

[Migara]

In SL context,

Nimesh Perera - When Murali broke in to the school cricket scene in 1991 he took record of 110 wickets for a school season. No one thought a bowler could overtake that. In came Nimesh Perera two year later and took 120 and 126 wickets in two seasons back to back! He was a very good leggie. And in 1994, against SA under 24 team that had Klusener, Pollock, Kallis and Leibenberg took 10-5-8-4 in an 50 over match.

Was he a bowler only? No! He was a top class batsmen as well. Made several centuries in above seasons.

He was in the fringe after 1996 WC to join the team.

But Arjuna did not like the "care free" attitude of Perera towards Arjuna, and he blocked young man's entrance to the team for nearly five years.

If he was there, would have been a awesome slow bowling allrounder today.

Jehan Mubarak - **** batsman, his father's big buks keeping him in the team. Yes, he's a brilliant fielder but that's only the good thing about him.

 

[Top_Cat]

I don't recall saying this, nor was I aware of it. At any rate, selecting Brendon Julian based on all-round ability is utter lunacy. At international level, he was in Shane Warne's class as a batsman. As a bowler, he often (save the odd spell) fell well short of Test class. Not the stuff that aspirant all-rounders are made off. After all, we don't consider Mitchell Johnson to be one, right? Ultimately, Julian was a 'bowler who can bat a bit' (he opened the bowling, for one thing). The kind of thinking that the selectors demonstrated doesn't really justify his selection at all.

Not in terms of numbers but BJ just oozed talent in the early days. I've still got one of those old WWoS cricket annuals they put out every year and even in 1989/90, he was featured as a star of the future. Just a failed experiment, hoping he'd come good given the right opportunities. Much like Shane Lee (who I thought was a better batsman at least).

Nuts. Picking someone who was both expensive and ineffective for a warm-up game and then a Test match over somebody who was more economical during the preceeding game.

I rest assured that those selectors were merely smoking crack, then.

They had their favourites and Steve Waugh was the beneficiary of a lot of faith himself. Holdsworth just wasn't 'in' in the same way BJ was from what I heard, similarly Haydos at that time. Was no coincidence his opportunities were limited to ODI's in the early days when Simmo was coach who was often accused of preferential treatment to the equivalent NSW player (Slater over Haydos in 1993, Taylor over Moody in 1989).

 

[Burgey]

Frank Ward - picked for Australia to tour England in 1938 (over Clarrie Grimmett no less, unless I'm mistaken). He'd played earlier and done well, but apparently Bradman wanted him over Clarrie

He then played at Headingly as part of an extravagent spin trio with o'Reilly and Fleetwood-Smith, returning the following analysis as England racked up 650 plus:

O M R W Econ
30 2 142 0 4.73

Probably not Sir Donald's best selection.